The first benefit of adding depth at receiver came before the season started for the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Battlehawks. It’s not exactly how coach Anthony Becht envisioned things, but helpful nonetheless.
A knee injury suffered by Jahcour Pearson, acquired in the offseason, might not create much dropoff because his addition did not come at the expense of other key contributors.
The Battlehawks still have their top two pass catchers from 2023 in Hakeem Butler and Darrius Shepherd, who combined for 99 receptions. They picked up Blake Jackson, who had 45 catches for Seattle in the XFL. And top draft pick Ja'Marcus Bradley is in the fold after spending time last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The good thing about the receiver room is we’re very strong,†Becht said. “There’s a lot of competition and we have a lot of speed right now.â€
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Pearson arrived as the icing on the cake. Playing for Seattle, he led the XFL last season with 60 catches for 670 yards and four touchdowns. He was expected to become yet another target for quarterback A.J. McCarron and is expected to be out six weeks, meaning he might return around the season’s fourth game.
When the Battlehawks open the season Saturday at Michigan, they hope to put their array of receivers to work in the first week of the new United Football League, a streamed circuit of former XFL and USFL teams.
Becht kept eight receivers on the final 50-man roster announced Friday, although Pearson is on the injured-reserve list.
“We all want to be great ourselves, but we all raise the bar in our room to say, ‘We’re going to be the best group on the field,’ †receiver Marcell Ateman. “Our offense runs through us, so if we’re having a bad practice, it goes downhill from there.â€
Battlehawks quarterbacks — mainly McCarron — threw 332 passes last season compared to 198 rushing plays by the team. Becht recently was asked on a teleconference if he planned to throw on every down, and he didn’t even scoff at the notion while striking it down.
The team scored 26 touchdowns through the air in 2023 with only four coming on the ground. With so many returning receivers and a returning QB, things moved more quickly in camp.
“We can advance a little faster with a good nucleus,†Becht said. “Those others blended in really good and that preparation time is a lot faster. Don’t forget about Ja'Marcus Bradley. He signed a futures contract with the NFL and has been really good as well. You’re talking about a starting quality receiver when healthy that may not get as many reps as they want.
“The biggest roadblock for me as a coach is making sure guys can continue to work the timing and tempo at a high level yet keep their legs prepared.â€
Also among the targets will be East ºüÀêÊÓƵ High graduate Jeff Thomas and Jerome Kapp, and the tight ends will be Kemari Averett and Jake Sutherland, who had nine catches and two TDs in 2023.
Among the departed is Austin Proehl as well as his father, Ricky, who coached the receivers last season. Phil McGeoghan takes over as the position coach.
Part of the anticipation for the start of the season is having a deep group to combine with McCarron, an NFL-experienced quarterback with a season under Becht’s system.
“Having a year in the offense is great and we’re adding more,†Ateman said. “We hit camp rolling. We didn’t have to go over too much. I feel with so many of the same guys, we face higher expectations. We’re on the same page with A.J. and A.J. is clicking. He’s had a fire camp.â€
The Battlehawks cut to their 50-man roster last week after starting camp with 75 players. The backup quarterbacks will be Manny Wilkins and Brandon Silvers.